Category: Transition
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Reflecting on Church after Gmunden
I grew up in a broad community that adhered to a set of values and beliefs, and though my neighborhood was at the edge of the city, limited in many ways (economically and politically), we transcended our boundaries of space and time. Early on in my life I traveled all over the country, meeting new…
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Întrebări indiscrete
Uneori se repetă, alteori sunt doar invazive, și nu o data, întrebările indiscrete au fost puse de față cu copiii noștri adoptați. “O cunoști pe mama lor biologică? Sunt de etnie? Cum sau de ce au fost abandonați? De unde vin? Cum au ajuns la voi? I-ați ales voi? Ceva in noi se crispează la…
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Dificultăți sau oportunități de conectare
Ce provocări ne așteaptă dincolo de pragul adoptiei? Suntem pregătiți sa le facem față? Sunt întrebări cu care ne frământam noi toți părinții potențial adoptatori. Toți copiii adoptați ajung in familii cu diferite carențe: fizice, emoționale, sociale, spirituale. Chiar si dacă au recuperat deja mult la asistenții maternali. Unii poarta cu ei rănile la suprafața, alții…
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Despre schimbare
Le povesteam fetelor zilele trecute că deși știam adânc în ființă mea ca suntem pe drumul cel bun, ca adopția este soluția situației noastre ca familie, mă ispitea îndoiala. Schimbarea e grea, dezradacinarea dureroasa, re-atasarea un proces anevoios, și totuși a rămâne fiecare unde suntem nu este o soluție fezabila. Doar evitam inevitabilul. Da, copiii noștri…
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Uninvited
The clicks of youth, the exclusion and the standards by which friendships are pursued, it is an age old drama and yet like nothing I’ve seen before. Especially when it comes to a randomized mixed group, like school or neighborhood or church, where we ought to learn to embrace those who are not like us,…
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Conversații bogate
Petrec serile răspunzând la întrebări. E un timp bogat de conectare cu fetele mele. Recunosc ca îmi place sa am o audiență așa captivată de ce am de zis. Doar ca setea lor e de nestăvilit. Întrebările curg, inima si mintea lor se umple. Nu mereu am energie sau cuvinte sa Le fac pe plac.…
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Mudslide
It felt like a whirlwind, a mudslide of noise, opinions, decisions. Spending money is the sauce for extra stress. And this month I had to pay our property taxes, rent income tax, health insurance, and there are a few trips coming up. We bought equipment for hiking in Austria, and my biggest burden this fall,…
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Insight in the new year
I figured out something. Two things actually. I didn’t listen to my body, to my limits, and tried to do multiple things at the same time. Now my body doesn’t listen to me, and sends me warning signals even for no reason. We need to regain this mutual trust between my will and my strength. It’s…
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Our first Recession
Newlyweds at the end of 2007. That year we got married, moved to California, started new jobs that were intense, demanding, full time. After four years of college and summer internships, full time work felt draining, stuck, oppressive. But I was commuted to pull through. To get used to it, to take the bull by its…
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Burnout
I have prioritized other with the best intentions but for the first time I felt the consequences of focusing outwardly. I met great people, I served in fantastic causes but my inner circle was neglected, as well as my well-being. I had hoped the giving will slow down but people will take as much as…
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Reflecting on the wild 2022 ride
I’m slowing down slowly. Regaining my balance is tedious work. Right now the more I rest the more I need rest. I anxiously put out of my mind the thought of returning to life as it was before the holidays. In retrospect we lived 2022 with a baggage of fear. Last year before Christmas Conrad…
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2022
The year of many new friends. We threw ourselves into new circumstances, served and made friends. The people we met this year are brilliant, kind, driven. We are enriched but we are also spent. I’ve focused on serving others, on where I’m needed, on how I can enrich other people’s lives. But the key which…